WINCHESTER broke a three-season home win pattern when scrum half Connor Breen nailed an injury time penalty.
Victory had gone to the host team each time Winch and Weybridge Vandals had met in London 2 South-West action over the last three campaigns.
And it looked as if it was going that way again as visitors Winchester trailed their rivals in the exciting closing stages.
Winchester had gone ahead with a penalty in a match that called out for safe, patient rugby in mud bath conditions that made it difficult to tell each team apart.
Main highlight Those three points were the main highlight of the first half but Vandals showed how to retain possession after the break and eventually found a hole in the Winchester defence.
And they looked favourites to go on and win the game after another penalty each and two minutes left on the clock.
That was when Breen was given an outside chance to claim victory with a difficult kick which sailed wide of the posts. But there was more drama to follow.
Unexpected The kicker got an unexpected and easier opportunity with four minutes of extra time on the clock and made no mistake with his boot as Winchester won 9-8.
They remain in second spot but have played three more games than chasing London Cornish.
However, Cornish were given a fright at home as Andover took a point from a battling performance – eventually losing out 23-19.
In the other all-Hampshire game bottom side Basingstoke lost out 30-0 at home to Portsmouth RFC.
l Eastleigh suffered their heaviest London 3 South West defeat of the season at a wet Old Deer Park against Old Tonbridgians.
There were moments of play where Eastleigh came close to scoring, however handling errors and poor decision making meant they ultimately left scoreless.
There were a couple of positives to take from the trip to Richmond, as Mark Winterhalder and Joe Smith made solid first XV debuts.
The final score did not reflect the combative nature of the game, but the hosts took advantage of all the opportunities presented to win 50-0.
Eastleigh’s Man of the Match was Adam Gallagher.
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